1. They won't be removing sound systems in general2. Cars will still have speakers, cabling, power, and associated supporting items for "in-dash entertainment" for lack of a better term.3. AM/FM circuitry is a completely solved problem, and represents a tiny fraction of the cost of these systems.4. At least SOME people will still want them, assuming the broadcasts are still out there to tune into.5. Radio stations aren't going away in five years, they will still have a huge captive audience driving older/used vehicles for many years to come.

1. They won't be removing sound systems in general2. Cars will still have speakers, cabling, power, and associated supporting items for "in-dash entertainment" for lack of a better term.3. AM/FM circuitry is a completely solved problem, and represents a tiny fraction of the cost of these systems.4. At least SOME people will still want them, assuming the broadcasts are still out there to tune into.5. Radio stations aren't going away in five years, they will still have a huge captive audience driving older/used vehicles for many years to come.

leading to

6. The reports of AM/FM's death are being greatly exaggerated

You underestimate the lengths a car company will go to cut costs.

See: the missing intermittent wiper speed knob on my Corolla S. Standard on the trim level below; all the wiring and mechanical bits are still there (if I were to acquire an LE wiper lever, it would just work). Only logical conclusion is that they omitted the part to save the $1 on the knob.

I can almost guarantee that, the moment car manufacturers see that their market research indicates that the majority of drivers are using non-radio sources for their car stereos, AM/FM tuners will be dropped, assuming no government intervention or major public outcry about public safety or something along those lines.

See: the missing intermittent wiper speed knob on my Corolla S. Standard on the trim level below; all the wiring and mechanical bits are still there (if I were to acquire an LE wiper lever, it would just work). Only logical conclusion is that they omitted the part to save the $1 on the knob.

I can almost guarantee that, the moment car manufacturers see that their market research indicates that the majority of drivers are using non-radio sources for their car stereos, AM/FM tuners will be dropped, assuming no government intervention or major public outcry about public safety or something along those lines.

No, I'm aware of what they'll cut. Especially in lines like Camry, since a dollar per-unit is literally a million bucks a year in 'free' money. Thing is, it would literally cost more to go back and remove this stuff, then re-certify then you could realistically save in any reasonable time frame. It's also not really the car companies that are making these devices, anyway...AFAIK.

It's also not really the car companies that are making these devices, anyway...AFAIK.

That's actually worse, because they squeeze Delphi, CAS, Visteon, Marelli, et al for every penny, so those guys tend to cut costs more ruthlessly than even GM, Ford and the like. That said, GM just announced last week that they'll be bringing a lot of this back in-house:

Only responding to the title. I have no doubt that at some point in time AM/FM radio will disappear, but when I walked into the building this morning all of the AM/FM radio guys were still here. They, apparently, weren't fired on Friday so I'd guess that we're still planning to ship radios in cars for at least the near future.

Yeah, I don't think it's going anywhere soon. I mean you could still get a cassette deck in a new car what, 3-4 years ago?

It's also not really the car companies that are making these devices, anyway...AFAIK.

That's actually worse, because they squeeze Delphi, CAS, Visteon, Marelli, et al for every penny, so those guys tend to cut costs more ruthlessly than even GM, Ford and the like. That said, GM just announced last week that they'll be bringing a lot of this back in-house:

This is how old GM, old Ford and old Chrysler operated. Every time they needed money (which was basically all the time) they would wail on the suppliers, forcing them to do vicious cost cutting on their products. The suppliers make just about everything in the car expect the powertrain. This is why their cars were pieces of shit and why everything in the broke.

Only responding to the title. I have no doubt that at some point in time AM/FM radio will disappear, but when I walked into the building this morning all of the AM/FM radio guys were still here. They, apparently, weren't fired on Friday so I'd guess that we're still planning to ship radios in cars for at least the near future.

Yeah, I don't think it's going anywhere soon. I mean you could still get a cassette deck in a new car what, 3-4 years ago?

++ My '96 S-10 had a cassette deck(with auto-reverse!). The first vehicle I owned with a CD player is my current truck, a 2007 Colorado.

Only responding to the title. I have no doubt that at some point in time AM/FM radio will disappear, but when I walked into the building this morning all of the AM/FM radio guys were still here. They, apparently, weren't fired on Friday so I'd guess that we're still planning to ship radios in cars for at least the near future.

Yeah, I don't think it's going anywhere soon. I mean you could still get a cassette deck in a new car what, 3-4 years ago?

++ My '96 S-10 had a cassette deck(with auto-reverse!). The first vehicle I owned with a CD player is my current truck, a 2007 Colorado.

Heh. I have a 2004 Tacoma. It was the rock-bottom, base model. It has a cassette deck in it.

I am pretty much done with FM radio. We also have about an hour drive each way, and I used to listen to the radio for traffic / weather reports. The one station that has semi-decent music has a morning show that has progressively taken over the air-time with crappy jokes, and bullshit content (I.e. 'sexy girl' where they ask x-rated questions for 10 minutes, or another station where the female DJ has regular 'why everyone should hate men' rants).

Not sure what I will replace the radio with, but for traffic I have my wife ready with twitter and both cars take MP3 CDs. I think we will figure it out.

See: the missing intermittent wiper speed knob on my Corolla S. Standard on the trim level below; all the wiring and mechanical bits are still there (if I were to acquire an LE wiper lever, it would just work). Only logical conclusion is that they omitted the part to save the $1 on the knob.

Silly consumer.

It isn't about the $1 knob at all.

It is about selling the higher trim line, or a Camrey rather than a Corolla, to anyone who wants intermittent wipers.

It's also not really the car companies that are making these devices, anyway...AFAIK.

That's actually worse, because they squeeze Delphi, CAS, Visteon, Marelli, et al for every penny, so those guys tend to cut costs more ruthlessly than even GM, Ford and the like. That said, GM just announced last week that they'll be bringing a lot of this back in-house:

This is how old GM, old Ford and old Chrysler operated. Every time they needed money (which was basically all the time) they would wail on the suppliers, forcing them to do vicious cost cutting on their products. The suppliers make just about everything in the car expect the powertrain. This is why their cars were pieces of shit and why everything in the broke.

Which always struck me as a funny situation considering how high the margins are for those of us that are their suppliers.

The AM/FM circuit is nothing, the antenna has a real cost, and that will likely save enough to make it worth it to them. I think it also a matter of the general decline in listenership and corresponding decline in radio quality. This is probably leading to some people thinking it's too uncool for them to put on their cars. Clear Channel et al will probably have to start "paying" for radio to be included in cars and that will likely push radio out of business quickly.

Clear Channel et al will probably have to start "paying" for radio to be included in cars and that will likely push radio out of business quickly.

Clear Channel already has a net-based business. I'm sure they'd just transition to other broadcast methods, were radio really to go away.

They've already got three channels on XM, one of which I'm pretty sure is also on Sirius. (For those that were asking, these are the only channels I'm aware of that play real commercials there. The Clear Channel LA stream - OMG, I have never hated ProActiv so much before, and I thought those TV commercials were long and annoying.)

Clear Channel et al will probably have to start "paying" for radio to be included in cars and that will likely push radio out of business quickly.

Clear Channel already has a net-based business. I'm sure they'd just transition to other broadcast methods, were radio really to go away.

They've already got three channels on XM, one of which I'm pretty sure is also on Sirius. (For those that were asking, these are the only channels I'm aware of that play real commercials there. The Clear Channel LA stream - OMG, I have never hated ProActiv so much before, and I thought those TV commercials were long and annoying.)

Is it the regional channels that are CC? I avoid those like the plague.

As long as it has an NPR button, I don't care what conveyance they use to pipe the audio feed in.

This, plus the NPR button needs to be free just as the FM signal is now.

Nah, It should be dynamic. If you pledge, your account gets the stream. If you are a non-pledging freeloader you get pledge drive announcements muxed in all year round. God damn non-pledging bastards. We will never become a socialist commune if we dont pledge!

Clear Channel et al will probably have to start "paying" for radio to be included in cars and that will likely push radio out of business quickly.

Clear Channel already has a net-based business. I'm sure they'd just transition to other broadcast methods, were radio really to go away.

They've already got three channels on XM, one of which I'm pretty sure is also on Sirius. (For those that were asking, these are the only channels I'm aware of that play real commercials there. The Clear Channel LA stream - OMG, I have never hated ProActiv so much before, and I thought those TV commercials were long and annoying.)

Is it the regional channels that are CC? I avoid those like the plague.

Yeah. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm pretty sure the major news channel radio stations that they rebroadcast (CNN/FOX/etc.) have commercials, too. It's been a while since I've strayed from Radio One, Pop2K, and BPM. I'll also say the channel bumpers can get downright irritating on some of the higher-numbered channels like Laugh Attack; they literally go like five minutes between bumpers.

XM sucks. Yes, it's nice to not have to find other stations when traveling, but the audio quality is terrible. I can do bluetooth audio in my car, but don't have unlimited data with Verizon.

I believe the audio quality varies based on the channel right? My wife likes to listen to comedy stations on there and I just cannot stand them due to audio quality. The channels I listen all seem quite fine honestly. I mean they are not perfect, but clearly sound better than terrestrial radio does.

No really, You could easily put just about any kind of sound source in an 8 track body and plug it into your unit: Cassette Player, CD Player, MP3 player, iPod dock, pandora/XM/Serious reciever, or an actual 8-track tape.

I believe the audio quality varies based on the channel right? My wife likes to listen to comedy stations on there and I just cannot stand them due to audio quality. The channels I listen all seem quite fine honestly. I mean they are not perfect, but clearly sound better than terrestrial radio does.

There's less bandwidth on the non-music channels, so yes it's definitely lower quality. People complain here all the time about the music audio quality but to me it's about the same or better as FM radio. I don't see the issue.

Clear Channel et al will probably have to start "paying" for radio to be included in cars and that will likely push radio out of business quickly.

Clear Channel already has a net-based business. I'm sure they'd just transition to other broadcast methods, were radio really to go away.

They've already got three channels on XM, one of which I'm pretty sure is also on Sirius. (For those that were asking, these are the only channels I'm aware of that play real commercials there. The Clear Channel LA stream - OMG, I have never hated ProActiv so much before, and I thought those TV commercials were long and annoying.)

What channel is that? You don't mean the LArea weather-and-traffic channel? (The traffic reports there do in fact come from a Clear Channel company, and I imagine the weather does too.)

As long as it has an NPR button, I don't care what conveyance they use to pipe the audio feed in.

This, plus the NPR button needs to be free just as the FM signal is now.

Nah, It should be dynamic. If you pledge, your account gets the stream. If you are a non-pledging freeloader you get pledge drive announcements muxed in all year round. God damn non-pledging bastards. We will never become a socialist commune if we dont pledge!

Wait...what? In a socialist society nobody would pledge, because the government would be responsible for the funding. That's kind of the point! What you're describing is more like an anarchist commune.